Registered sex offender from Southeast Texas sentenced to 17 years in prison for child pornography

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A registered sex offender from Southeast Texas was sentenced to 17 years in federal prison Thursday for receiving child pornography.

U.S. Immigration and Custom’s Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Corpus Christi, Texas, conducted the investigation along with the Corpus Christi Police Department Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force; Jim Wells County Sheriff’s Office and Probation Department; and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Cameron Michael Pittman, 34, a resident of Orange Grove, Texas, pleaded guilty to receiving child pornography in the Southern District of Texas Sept. 9. In handing down the sentence, U.S. District Judge Drew B. Tipton upwardly departed from the sentencing guidelines and ordered Pittman to serve the 204-month sentence. At the hearing, the court heard additional information including Pittman’s criminal history which detailed his prior conviction for indecency with a child. The court noted the guidelines did not adequately reflect Pittman’s character and history nor the seriousness of the offense. In imposing the sentence, the court noted the way Pittman’s actions have demonstrated his tendency to target children – the most vulnerable.

Pittman was further ordered to serve 10 years on supervised release during which time the court can impose a number of special conditions designed to protect children. He was also again ordered to register as a sex offender.

The investigation began when the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children alerted authorities that images of child pornography were being uploaded through an IP address originating in Orange Grove. The investigation led to Pittman as the one using the e-mail and IP address.

Law enforcement conducted a search, at which time they seized multiple electronic devices from Pittman’s residence. A forensic examination later revealed images and videos of child pornography.

Pittman later admitted to receiving the images. The large majority of the images and videos located on Pittman’s devices depicted the sexual exploitation of children under the age of 10.

At the time of his arrest, he was a registered sex offender and on probation for the 2nd degree felony offense of indecency with a child.

Pittman has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. 

Assistant U.S. Attorney Sara Popejoy prosecuted the case.